With Father’s Day approaching, and the economy stagnant, saving money just got more important. Fortunately, getting dad a great gift won’t burn a hole in your pocket. For those living within a budget, even cutting edge technology can be had for under $50

10 Techie Father’s Day Gifts for Under $50

I’ve put together a list of ten affordable gadgets that appeal to older males, who have at least some interest in technology. The gift ideas on this list cater to those interested in improving their physical fitness, reducing strain from wrist-ailments, and other issues relevant to an older, male demographic.

The products include wearable fitness trackers, drone technology, smart home products, high-quality earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, and more — all for less than $50.

Is dad trying to lose a few pounds? The fitness tracker FitBit Zip offers a winning combination of low-price, six months of battery life, and basic activity tracking. While its features are relatively limited in comparison to higher priced fitness trackers, it provides enough bare-bones features to satisfy entry-level users.

The Zip best meets the needs of someone unfamiliar with new technology because of its ease-of-use and reduced need for recharging — a perfect fit for most dads.

Splash, but not water-proof.

Easy to use.

Counts steps, calories burned, distance traveled, and when the user was active.

An alternative to the Fitbit Zip, the Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse offers even more features, for less money. Xiaomi made waves with its entry into the US in 2015 with low-cost, high-quality devices.

Unlike the endless parade of overpriced Android Wear smartwatches PCAdvisor considers the Mi Band to be the “best-value” activity tracker on the market. Overall, the Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse offers users the same functionality as a $100 fitness tracker, at a fraction of the price.

Sleep and heart-rate tracking.

Mobile app for easy setup and configuration.

Compatible with a select number of iOS and Android smartphones.

What Others Had to Say:

Wareable: “(Almost) anything your premium tracker can do, this budget band can do too.” — 3/5

PCAdvisor: “You will not find an activity tracker that offers better value than Xiaomi’s Mi Band Pulse.” — 4.5/5

For dads interested in remote-control technology, consider getting him an entry-level drone. The best-reviewed model on Amazon under $50 is the Holy Stone Predator HS170 quadcopter. It includes features common to more expensive drones, such as the ability to perform in-flight aerobatics, although it is definitely a “for beginners” gadget.

Easy to fly and control.

Durable and well-constructed.

Long battery life.

What Others Had to Say:

TopDroneStore: “The Holy Stone is a quick and responsive drone which is built well and can survive many crashes, perfect for a beginner. ” — 5/5

Rather than moving his wrist, the user moves their thumb to control the mouse cursor. Not only is it less injurious, it also allows for easier cleaning and maintenance.

The overall impression from the Internet is that the M570 is the best wireless trackball mouse — particularly for those suffering from arthritis, carpal tunnel, or RSI. On the downside, the scroll wheel doesn’t include any modern features, such as tilt-scrolling.

Ergonomic design.

18 months of battery life.

Wireless connection.

A little on the large side. Not for those with tiny hands.

Antiquated scroll wheel.

What Others Had to Say:

PCMag: “Although, my experience was hampered by my small hands, which were unable to comfortably reach the scroll wheel and browser buttons, I was still impressed by the advanced navigating experience the M570 offered.” — 4/5

I normally wouldn’t recommend a product like the D-Link DIR-817LW — its reviews are decidedly mediocre. But at its current fire-sale price of $20.99, you can’t go wrong. It’s by far the cheapest wireless-AC router on today’s market — and a recommend buy for those looking to dip their feet in the newest Wi-Fi technology.

Does dad ever go traveling? If he takes along a smartphone, he could definitely use a backup battery.

Anker’s reputation as one of the best backup battery manufacturers gives its Astro E3 Ultra line serious street cred. Indeed, it’s one of the best-reviewed backup batteries sold by Amazon, mostly due to its high-quality construction, long warranty, low price, fast charge times, and large power capacity.

A tech journalist (BA) with a background in international affairs (MA), Kannon's main interest is using technology to live better. He reports on wearable technology, gadgets, RSS, Android, and lots of other technology related trends. Follow him on his Twitter profile.